Writing this piece annually excites me as it always sends my wanderlust into overdrive. And this year I truly need it since, oddly, I have no excursions planned—an error I must fix right now!
My last top 10 selection for where to vacation in 2025 really excites me… Whether you want inspiration of any kind, I have some cooler vacation ideas, some adventure, choices for all seasons, and a lot of wonderful natural beauty.
My 2025 travel concept concepts were considered
My 2024 trip was rather Europe-heavy (although… Being a Euro-phile I celebrated a significant birthday with my sisters in Guatemala and with a buddy in Miami, quickly explored San Juan, Puerto Rico, then went on a really EPIC South African trip. The sites were a little more out of my hands as usual since I traveled far more with others this year.
My 2025 travel motivation strikes a good balance between under-the-radar treasures and sites that have long been popular but could have been ignored in favor of fashionable choices. As usual, great natural beauty (heavy on coastal areas), culture, architecture, great cuisine and drink all get a lot of attention. The list is also a combination of locations I have never been and ones I am eager to return to.
Also, on the subject of everlasting favorites…let’s discuss the “Eternal City”. A fast PSA: 2025 is NOT the year to visit Rome. Some sort of year-long celebration is going on; they anticipate even more visitors (at least 35 million) over 2025. It will be more costly and packed than usual.
Ten fantastic destinations for tourism in 2025
As you plan your 2025 trip, I always advise two things.
First, I have a thorough article on how to prevent problems with flying travel as well as how to endure them should they arise. Though much is out of your hands, there are certain things you can do to increase your likelihood of seamless travel.
Second, if you’re not using this Google Flights map trick to locate the greatest travel choices—especially if your dates, location, etc. are flexible—well, why not?!
Now let’s discuss where to go in 2025!
1. Sardinia
For more than a year, Sardinia has occupied my thoughts. Almost often it was Sardinia when I began to see these breathtaking images of pristine white sand beaches and crystal-clear aqua sea appearing on my Instagram.Sardinia’s world-class beaches, great cuisine, rich history and ancient ruins, and varied topography ensure that it offers something for everyone. Though foodies and those looking for excitement will be equally pleased, you may have a really laid-back beach holiday. It’s not only Insta-famous; I have an Italian co-worker who comes here several times a year and raves about it.
It’s a locals favorite but doesn’t have the international crowds yet since getting there is a bit more complicated and it doesn’t generate as much hype as other Italian hot places. That may change, though, and I want to be there before it does.
2. New England fall foliage excursion
My religious holy days fall in the fall, hence I don’t get much personal travel in at this time. Fortunately, I reside in a region that has its own share of lovely fall foliage, but one of these days I want to organize a really epic fall journey in New England—it seems like a rite of passage.
I last visited New England twenty years ago (and that was in summer), and I never ventured north of Massachusetts. A one-week Massachusetts > New Hampshire > Vermont trip, or just VT/NH for a few days, would be ideal, I believe.
Drive about and marvel at the kaleidoscope of hues, go on short walks, visit a maple house and gorge on maple goods, stop for cider and donuts, stay in lovely tiny lodges, search out American historical places, and overall just rest and recharge.
3. Belgium’s Bruges
When planning a European trip, Belgium is sometimes overlooked, yet many of my friends have praised Bruge’s historic old town, beautiful canals, quaint cafés, and lovely cobblestone streets. Though it’s smaller than Antwerp, Brussels, and Ghent, the lovely European city is ideal for a weekend getaway.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the “Venice of the North” has a fairly well-preserved historic core (escaped serious damage in the world wars). Also… handcrafted chocolates, waffles, and fries (frites)!
4. The island of Crete
With more than 200 inhabited Greek islands (over 6,000 altogether), it’s astonishing that just a handful grab the lion’s share of visitors’ focus. Yes, Santorini is lovely, however it’s rather pricey and overrun. You may either jump over to Crete for a more peaceful “something for everyone” experience or spend your time bouncing around lesser-known little islands (a fantastic idea).
By far Greece’s biggest island, Crete is easy to spend a week there and still hardly touch the surface. Incredible beaches? Look. From ancient (bible times) to current (WWII), world-class historic sites. Examine. Crazy cuisine? Examine. From its renowned beaches to inner mountains, lakes, and numerous gorges for trekking, Crete offers great geographic variety. Being the southernmost Greek island, it is warm and bright the longest.So I traveled a little but wasn’t as free to go about as I’d usually be while abroad, having spent more than a week there in 2024 for holy days. The quality of the meals in comparison to several other sites in Greece I have visited astonished me. Though it’s significantly larger, it has a lot of parallels to Naxos in atmosphere, geography, culinary culture, road trip possibilities, beaches, and more genuine feel. Planning a comeback trip excites me!
5. Washington DC in cherry blossom season
Well… I have never visited Washington DC. Other than a few quick business visits in the DC suburbs, we did not take an 8th grade field trip here; I have never gone. At some time, I believe my “patriotic American” card will be revoked. And it’s one of those vacation spots that appears so clear-cut that may be missed these days given everyone’s search for something fresh.
Why would someone who famously dislikes museums want to visit DC? To be fair, I probably would make an exception for the Smithsonian… Given that I’m re-watching Bones, I nearly typed “Jeffersonian.”
Of course, there’s a lot of history there, and I’d like to see the National Mall, Lincoln Memorial, and more—preferably at sunset among other times. I would like to stroll some of the nicer areas, check out the city’s unexpectedly-excellent culinary culture, perhaps visit the White House, and see some of the memorials. And witness the cherry blossoms!!!